Building block



y 1931. SPELSHOUSE 807,138

BUILDING BLOCK Filed July 22, 1929 2 ShQBtS-Sheet 1 May 26, 1931.

L. L. SPELSHOUSE BUILDING BLOCK Filed July 22, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 26, 1931 Unitas STAtEiS LOUIS L. SPELSHOUSE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND BUILDENG 31.00;:

Application filed July 22,

This invention relates to improvements in building blocks and has for its object to provide an improved construction of block which will materially simplify the erection of a wall and keeping the same plumb and which may be rigidly interlocked with cement at both ends and midway thereof with the courses of blocks both above and below it, and

Another object of the invention is to pro-' tive.

Fig. 2 illustrates, also in perspective, one block mounted upon others beneath it to show their set-up relation.

Fig. 3 shows in end elevation, two blocks,

5 one upon the other.

Fig. 4; illustrates a central vertical cross section through the block.

Fig. 5 shows a top or plan view of a portion of a wall to show how the several courses break joint and how they are locked together, and

Fig. 6 illustrates the same in side elevation.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates one vertical face of the block and 11 the opposite vertical face of the same. The upper horizontal edges 12 and 13 of these two blockfaces are located in different horizontal planes in that the upper edge 12 of face 10 lies in a horizontal plane below the edge 13 of face 11.

At the bottom of the block a similar condition prevails, in that the lower horizontal edge 14, of face 10 of the block has position in a horizontal plane below the horizontal edge 15 of the vertical face 11.

The block also has two horizontal upper or top faces 16 and 17 in difierent horizontal planes and two horizontal bottom faces 18 and 19 also in different horizontal planes.

An upstanding right-angle shoulder 20 is formed on the top of each block between the 1929. Serial N'o. 380,166.

higher and lower faces 17 and 16 at the top and a depending right-angle shoulder 21, is

formed on the bottom of each block between the higher and lower faces 19 and 18. These right-angle shoulders 20 and 21 at the top and bottom of each block extend from opposite ends of the block to a midway vertical passage as will presently be explained.

. By reference to Figs. 1 and 2, it will also be noted that each block is provided with a vertical passage 22 located midway 'between its ends which passage extends down through the block and has one open side 23 which intersects the shoulder 20-atthetop which-open side faces in another directionand one open side 24 which intersects the shoulder '21 at the bottom which open side 24c'faces'ina reverse direction, as best shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing. The purpose of this opening .in

each block will presently be explained.

it will thus be seen that theopen side 23 of the central vertical-passage 22 opens-over the lower horizontal top face 16 while :the open side 24 of said vertical passage '22 opens below the upper horizontal bottom face 119 of the block.

The two ends of each blockare of like formationzand a description of one :willapply equally as well to :theother.

From the high top face 17 to the high bottom face19 each block has a narrow vertical end or corner face 25 at one side of-the end and from the low top face 16 to the lQWbOttom face 18 each block has another narrow vertical endor corner face 26 at theopposite side of said end. I

From the inner edges of :the two corner faces25 and 26,- the end ofeach blOCkjhaS a beveled face 27 and these two beveled faces extend inwardly toa fiat vertical end face 28.

By reference to Fig. 1, it willlbeseenzthat each fiat vertical end face 28, at one side extendsto andis squaredofl' flush with the high face 17 at the top of the block and at the opposite side is squared off flush with the low face 16 of said block top. 1

Also it will be seen that saidend face 28 at the bottom has-one edge that is squared csif flush with thehig her lower face 19 and another edge that is squared off .flush with the lower face 18 at the bottom of said block.

The beveled faces 27 and the flat vertical face 28, form a vertical recess at each end of the block so that when two blocks are brought together end-to-end, as shown in Fig. 5, the vertical faces 25 and 26 abut while the two vertical recessed ends register and form a vertical opening 29 between the two ends of adjacent blocks.

When one horizontal course of blocks is laid upon a course beneath, the ends of the blocks of the upper course are brought together at a point midway between the ends of the blocks beneath so that the vertical openings 29 between the ends of the upper'course of blocks will have position directly over the central vertical passages 22 in the course of blocks beneath and these courses are keyed together by a plug formed by a filler of concrete 80, which is packed in the registered vertical passages 22 and 29 of the superposed blocks, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings. 7

It will thus be seen that when the blocks are erected, one course upon another, they are locked together by their coacting shoulders 20 and 21 which lap vertically at both the top and bottom and that they are further keyed together by the. vertical plugs 30 which plugs also efiectually seal the vertical joint between adjacent blocks in the same course.

It will also be seen that if the blocks are erected with the faces 10 thereof exposed at the outside of the wall, moisture from the outside. cannot work through to the inside because of thevertical shoulder 20 an'd'the higher top face 17 of the block being at the inner side.

- I have foundin practice that blocks constructed as herein shown and set forth will form a sturdy and tight wall and lends itself to ready and rapid erection.

-Having described my invention, I claim,

1. A building block having two opposite vertical side faces with a top extending crosswise of the block from one side face to a longitudinal shoulder and another top face extending crosswise of the block from said longitudinal shoulder to the opposite side face whereby said block-top from said shoulder to one side face will be higher than from said shoulder to the opposite side face, the bottom of thesaid block also having a longitudinal shoulder with a bottom face at one side ofthe 7 along one side and for substantially half of its width is higher than theremaining portion of said bottom, said block also having a single centralivertical passage, one side wall of which passage extends from the higher portion of the top to the higher portion of the bottom and the opposite side wall of which central passage extends from the lower portion of the top to the lower portion of the bottom,said block also having lengthwise shonlders at the. top which face in one direction and lengthwise shoulders at the bottom which face in an opposite direction which shoulders extend from the opposite ends of the block to opposite sides of the central vertical passage and the ends of the block having vertical recesses whereby when the blocks are superposed in a wall the central vertical recess of one block will register with the end recesses of blocks above andbelow it so the courses may be keyed together and the shoulder on the bottom of one block will confront the shoulder on the top of the block beneath it. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LOUIS L. SPELSHOUSE. 

